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HOLA!!!!!!!!!!!
met some awesome people here in Barcelona and would you check out the weather ? proper quality.... (a week's solo backpacking has been a welcome change from a spooky weekend spent alone in my 1,200 capacity halls, kakking myself every time the flats creaked or made a noise...) apologies in advance for any typos - keyboard is littered with crazy "¿", "Ñ" "ç" etc... In fact, a lot of things are new to me here - first time I've stayed in a fully developed country and it's a bit weird because it's like these people know what they're doing....
another journey on a mickey-mouse tonka toy of an aeroplane, courtesy of the far-from-prestigious 'Jet2.com airways'. An uneventful 3 hour flight, managed to pack everything in a small rucksack, allowed on as hand luggage... turned out I'd forgotten to pack spare underwear. Original boxers pretty crusty now and are beginning to solidify with sweat, quite rank.
The hostel I'd planned on staying in was full for two days, so I went hunting for a pension (like a home stay), finally finding a cheapo one up an alley that stank of pee. (To make matters worse, I spilt a
can of tango in my room, which must've looked like a dirty protest.) Seems random pissing in the street is a big political issue here, banners and protests "piss off, 2 legged dogs" and all that, are commonplace.... Pensions can be cool, as dormitories often feature other randoms who either snore, fart or worse, play with their rank selves - none of which you want when you're in bunk beds.. anyways - enough....
The biggest thing I've noticed here is how horrendously gorgeous everyone is. No really - it's ridiculous, everyone is beautiful and I feel quite out of place. Some of the older women on the beach are a bit hairy mind you - and they're not shy! I pondered how blatantly British I looked to everyone - particularly with my fluorescent sunburn - but since most touts seem to immediately start talking to me in English, I figure I must stand out like a sore thumb.
The tourist centre is La Rambla, a long tree-lined street with artists, restaurants, market stalls, pet shops, florists and street entertainers. The latter are pure genius, guaranteed to make you smile, my favourite being the sad clown and guy-covered-in-newspaper... Photo
opportunities a-rama! and I've got some great shots now I've bought an optical zoom! Also videoing stuff to make a short film. Strolling down one of the small off shoots of La Rambla, you hear hushed offers of "hashish? hashish?", which happens everywhere I've ever been - maybe I look like a stoner...
Ordered a menagerie of pastries for breakfast on Tuesday but somehow ended up with an overpriced coke and a coffee instead. This coupled with an argument in a sandwich shop with 'Olga', has led to me to live off the supermarket pretty much entirely. Actually, it's saving me loads! This pre-uni week away is costing me JACK! Flight was 60 pounds return and then 140 pounds max for accommodation, food, transport, sights, the works! =o)
Barcelona is in Catalunya, which is to Spain what Scotland is to England . So although it's probably not representative of the entire country, it's the little quirks and differences that make travel a pleasure. You can get books and beer out of vending machines here, buses run on natural gas, the supermarkets have baskets with wheels and a long handle for dragging, people smile, dinky alleyways...
Didn't really
meet anyone whilst staying in the pensions as I had a room to myself - good opportunity to get all the attractions out of the way though. Saw the Maritime Museum first - lots of old boats, swashbuckling and the like - fairly lame - then went to the Picasso museum, having studied him a bit for my course. Paid double to see Guernica (legendary anti-war painting) but just before leaving, when I asked where the actual painting was, I was told it was in Madrid . Tried hard to enjoy the museums, and felt a bit obliged to visit - didn't really enjoy it though.
Saw the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) church yesterday, probably the must-see thing here, magnificent - designed by Gaudi - work started over 100 years ago, due to be finished in 2041 ..blahblah, google it for more.
The gorgeous people here are also the most fashionable I've ever seen, the shops are all really cool, retro and hippy-ish... great to finally find a place where you can wear yellow trousers or red from head-to-toe or rainbow stripy stuff without being labelled a rampant homosexual or a plain nutcase. The Spanish in general are
legendary, I love watching the old guys talk and talk on the benches (they sit in their caps with their wrists on their walking sticks, which reminds be of Uncle Junior in The Sopranos...)
Went on a city bus tour last night, saw all the architecture, Olympic buildings, the magic fountains, ports and such. Met a lovely Canadian girl called Baby-G. Having already mistaken her for an American, I resisted quizzing her about why she was named after a waterproof timepiece. Sadly, she was off to Ibiza that evening but I'm now staying at the wicked Gothic Point hostel. Really modern social place, people from all over the world, Manu Chao and Everything But the Girl CDs on loop, air-con dormitories. The cleaner stole all my paperwork, toiletries and medication and someone else stole the book I was close to finishing, which was damned annoying - otherwise, it's all gravy...
Linked up with 2 Australians, a German girl and a fellow Brit last night and went to a couple of bars (had my first full pint of beer too - still don't see the appeal.) Earlier in the evening the ozzies were on the verge of fighting two idiot Brits - it's always embarrassing when you're travelling and people from home are acting like utter tits. Anyways, today chilled out again on the beach, visited the Gaudi gardens and befriended another few Europeans...
take care all! muchos love...
Tom x
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Kas
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your photo of Anarchy is truly great man! Cheers Kas